Chiltern Open Air Museum

Website

E-mail

General enquiries

Telephone

01494 871117

Education

01494 875542

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

An outstanding collection of historic buildings, rescued from destruction and rebuilt in 45 acres of beautiful Chilterns landscape. Explore the buildings including a 1940s Prefab from Amersham, a Victorian Vicarage Room from Thame, and a 19th-century earth cottage from Haddenham. Discover the working historic Chilterns farm and meet the animals, including three lovely heavy horses, a flock of rare-breed Oxford Down sheep and two young short-horn cows. There are special events throughout the season (April-October), including Medieval Jousting, Roman Gladiators, Tudor Farming, Chiltern Arts and Music Festivals, the Classic Vehicles Show, a spectacular Halloween event, and several events focussing on heavy horses and traditional agriculture.

An Annual Pass, valid for 12 months during Museum opening times, includes entry to almost every event and only costs £25 for an adult (range of concession, joint and family passes available). The Museum relies on the support of over 200 volunteers, and more are always welcome! Please email hlfvisitor@coam.org.uk for more information about volunteering.

By TrainThe Chiltern Line from Marylebone or the Metropolitan Line from Baker Street to Chalfont & Latimer Station or Chorleywood Station are within short taxi rides of the Museum.Train Helpline: 08457 484950www.chilternrailways.co.uk

By BusThere are no buses to Newland Park. The nearest bus stop in Chalfont St Giles, around 30 minutes walk away, is on the A30, and 353 routes.

Over 30 historic buildings from around the Chilterns.

Collection details

Social History, Land Transport, Decorative and Applied Art

Key artists and exhibits

1940s Prefab

Toll house

A reconstruction of an Iron Age house

and many more

Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.

Face to face resources

Life 2000 Years Ago Workshop

Explore the reconstructed Iron Age House and learn about the realities of life in pre-Roman Britain through a question and answer session.

How to obtain

This workshop is led by Museum teachers, but you and your adult support must help the children during the activity and are responsible for the behaviour of your group.Please ensure that you choose a workshop that is suitable for the age of your class and the topic you are studying at school.A maximum of 30 children are able to take part in a workshop at any one time. Workshops cost £30 per class. Please call 01494 875542 or email educationcoam@btconnect.com for more information and to make a booking.

Boxes, objects and other kit

Buildings and Objects Through the Senses Resource Box

Using feely bags, each containing an object / artefact, KS 1 & 2 children will use their senses to describe the object and make comparisons between the different materials, for example texture and warmth. Includes an 'Investigating Buildings' resource for use around the Museum buildings to put the science into context.

How to obtain

The resources within this box are designed to enable you to lead activities and discussions with your class at the Museum. A resource box costs £15 per day to hire, with up to 4 classes being able to utilise a box per day.Please call 01494 875542 or email educationcoam@btconnect.com for more information and to make a booking.

Students use the historic buildings to collate historical data including original building date, the date that the buildings were moved to the Museum and the location from which the buildings were collected from. The students will then be able to produce a chronological line of the buildings and building techniques as well as being able to map the collection area of the Museum. An information pack detailing the buildings (both re-erected and in storage) will be provided along with a geographical map.

How to obtain

Our free resource boxes are designed to enable you to lead activities and discussions with your class at the Museum. Up to 4 classes can use a box per day.

Boxes, objects and other kit

Chronological and Geographical Assessment of the Museum Buildings Resource Box

KS2 students use the historic buildings to collate historical data including original building date, the date that the buildings were moved to the Museum and the location from which the buildings were collected from. The students will then be able to produce a chronological line of the buildings and building techniques as well as being able to map the collection area of the Museum. An information pack detailing the buildings (both re-erected and in storage) will be provided along with a geographical map.

How to obtain

The resources within this box are designed to enable you to lead activities and discussions with your class at the Museum. A resource box costs £15 per day to hire, with up to 4 classes being able to utilise a box per day.Please call 01494 875542 or email educationcoam@btconnect.com for more information and to make a booking.

Construction Skills Day Workshop KS3 & 4

This hands-on day will provide an insight into the vernacular architecture and built environment of the Chilterns, and the construction skills required to preserve Britain's built heritage.

Each day includes: A short introductory tour of the Museum buildings, focusing on different structures including brick, timber and prefabricated buildings. Traditional Brick Making workshop looking at types of bricks and bonds: students make bricks and construct a wall. Cruck frame structures and materials workshop: raise a cruck frame barn as a group. Wattle and daub practical workshop.

How to obtain

This workshop day has a special price of £200 per group, for a maximum of 30 students per group, with a maximum of 4 groups per day.Activity workshops provide your class with a hands-on experiential learning experience. Although workshops are led by Museum teachers, you and your adult support must help the students during the activity and are responsible for the behaviour of your group.Please call 01494 875542 or email educationcoam@btconnect.com for more information and to make a booking.

Face to face resources

Cruck Frame Building Workshop KS 1 & 2

Find out more about different structures and materials used in buildings and as a class raise your own cruck frame barn.

How to obtain

This workshop is led by Museum teachers, but you and your adult support must help the children during the activity and are responsible for the behaviour of your group.Please ensure that you choose a workshop that is suitable for the age of your class and the topic you are studying at school.A maximum of 30 children are able to take part in a workshop at any one time. Workshops cost £30 per class. Please call 01494 875542 or email educationcoam@btconnect.com for more information and to make a booking.

Boxes, objects and other kit

Historic Landscapes Resource Box KS3 & 4

A collection of 6 original paintings entitled 'Birds of Prey and People' which illustrate the influence of settlements on the environmental landscape from the Iron Age to modern times. Accompanying notes for teachers will be provided.

How to obtain

Our free resource boxes are designed to enable you to lead activities and discussions with your class at the Museum. Up to 4 classes can use a box per day.

Face to face resources

Medieval Brick Making Workshop KS3

Find out more about different structures and materials used in buildings and make your own brick. Then discover the social importance of brick making throughout history from medieval to modern times and understand the role of children in the brickyards.

How to obtain

A booklet to support this activity is available from www.coam.org.uk/images/workshop%20pdf/KS1workshops/traditional%20brick%20making.pdfActivity workshops provide your class with a hands-on experiential learning experience. Although workshops are led by Museum teachers, you and your adult support must help the students during the activity and are responsible for the behaviour of your group.A maximum of 30 children are able to take part in a workshop at any one time. Workshops must be booked in advance of your visit. Please call 01494 875542 or email educationcoam@btconnect.com for more information and to make a booking.

Face to face resources

Medieval Structures Workshop

Find out more about different structures and materials used in buildings, as a class, raise your own cruck frame barn and then try your hand at daubing, a material which was in use from the Iron Age to the nineteenth century, when factory produced materials became widely available.

How to obtain

A downloadable information booklet to support this visit is available from www.coam.org.uk/images/workshop%20pdf/keystage3/Medieval%20Structures.pdfActivity workshops provide your class with a hands-on experiential learning experience, but must be booked in advance of your visit. Although workshops are led by Museum teachers, you and your adult support must help the students during the activity and are responsible for the behaviour of your group.A maximum of 30 children are able to take part in a workshop at any one time. Please call 01494 875542 or email educationcoam@btconnect.com for more information and to make a booking.

Boxes, objects and other kit

Reversible and Irreversible Changes in Building Materials Resource Box

Looking at changing states, your KS2 class will discover more about building materials from the raw material to the finished product. Includes an 'Investigating Buildings' resource for use around the Museum buildings to put the science into context.

How to obtain

The resources within this box are designed to enable you to lead activities and discussions with your class at the Museum. A resource box costs £15 per day to hire, with up to 4 classes being able to utilise a box per day.Please call 01494 875542 or email educationcoam@btconnect.com for more information and to make a booking.

Shelter Building Workshop KS 1 & 2

Find out more about different structures and materials used in buildings and create a shelter for you and your friends using only the materials found in the woods.

How to obtain

This workshop is led by Museum teachers, but you and your adult support must help the children during the activity and are responsible for the behaviour of your group.Please ensure that you choose a workshop that is suitable for the age of your class and the topic you are studying at school.A maximum of 30 children are able to take part in a workshop at any one time. Workshops cost £30 per class. Please call 01494 875542 or email educationcoam@btconnect.com for more information and to make a booking.

Paper-based and downloads

Teachers' Resource Pack and Downloads

Within each booking pack is a CD-Rom, which contains the Teachers' Resource Pack, a Welcome Letter for parents, worksheets and information packs on each of the activity workshops available. These are also available to download for free from our website. We also have a Travel and Tourism Case Study about the Museum available for purchase from the Education Office.

Boxes, objects and other kit

The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on the Historic Environment Resource Box KS 3 & 4

Students will use the historic buildings to understand the impact of the industrial revolution on building materials and techniques and the related industries with the buildings, including the blacksmith's forge and the Toll House. An information pack detailing related buildings and industries will be provided.

How to obtain

Our free resource boxes are designed to enable you to lead activities and discussions with your class at the Museum. Up to 4 classes can use a box per day.

Face to face resources

Traditional Brick Making Workshop KS 1 & 2

Find out more about different structures and materials used in buildings and make your own brick. Then discover the social importance of brick making throughout history from Medieval to modern times and understand the role of children in the brickyards.

How to obtain

A downloadble booklet to support this workshop is available here www.coam.org.uk/images/workshop%20pdf/KS1workshops/traditional%20brick%20making.pdfThis workshop is led by Museum teachers, but you and your adult support must help the children during the activity and are responsible for the behaviour of your group.Please ensure that you choose a workshop that is suitable for the age of your class and the topic you are studying at school.A maximum of 30 children are able to take part in a workshop at any one time. Workshops cost £30 per class. Please call 01494 875542 or email educationcoam@btconnect.com for more information and to make a booking.

Students use the Museum site and buildings to identify ways in which the historic built and landscape environments are interpreted to suit various audiences.An information pack detailing audience types, visitor numbers and suitable locations to research will be provided.

How to obtain

Our free resource boxes are designed to enable you to lead activities and discussions with your class at the Museum. Up to 4 classes can use a box per day.

Getting there

By TrainThe Chiltern Line from Marylebone or the Metropolitan Line from Baker Street to Chalfont & Latimer Station or Chorleywood Station are within short taxi rides of the Museum.Train Helpline: 08457 484950www.chilternrailways.co.uk

By BusThere are no buses to Newland Park. The nearest bus stop in Chalfont St Giles, around 30 minutes walk away, is on the A30, and 353 routes.